Definition

1. Noun:

   • A small hollow or depression in a hard surface, typically caused by an impact or blow: A dent is a visible, often shallow, indentation that mars the smoothness or flatness of an object's surface.
   • A noticeable reduction or adverse effect, especially on a resource like money or confidence: Used figuratively to describe a significant but not total lessening or negative impact.

2. Verb:

   • To make a dent in something; to cause a surface to become indented or depressed by pressure or a blow: The action of creating a dent.
   • To have a diminishing or damaging effect on something (often figurative): To reduce the amount, value, or strength of something.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The hailstorm left several small dents in the roof of the car.
  • Losing the key player put a serious dent in the team's morale.
• Verb:
  • I accidentally dented the fender when I backed into the pole.
  • The unexpected expenses have dented our savings considerably.

Advanced Usage

• "Make a dent in": To begin to have a noticeable effect in reducing something, especially a large task or amount.
  • After three hours of cleaning, we had only made a small dent in the mess.
• "Without a dent": Unharmed, unaffected, or not reduced.
  • His confidence remained without a dent despite the criticism.

Variants and Related Words

• Dented (adj): Having one or more dents.
  • The old, dented mailbox stood at the end of the driveway.
• Denting (n/gerund): The action or process of making dents.
  • The denting of the metal panel was severe.

Synonyms

• Noun: Indentation, depression, hollow, dimple, pit, ding.
• Verb: Indent, depress, ding, buckle, damage.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Dent up: To cause multiple dents or significant damage.
  • The baseball really dented up the side of the garage door.

Related Idioms

• Put a dent in something: To reduce the amount or strength of something significantly.
  • Buying a new computer will put a big dent in my budget.

Noun

1. an impression in a surface (as made by a blow)
2. a depression scratched or carved into a surface
3. an appreciable consequence (especially a lessening)
   • it made a dent in my bank account

Verb

1. make a depression into
   • The bicycle dented my car